1. Old leaves St. John’s for Australia’s Newcastle Jets

New Zealand international Steven Old has left St. John’s after two seasons to play for the Newcastle Jets of Australia’s A-League.
 
Newcastle coach Nick Theodorakopoulos signed the 20-year-old defender without a tryout. The 6-foot-3 Old, who was a first-team all-Big East pick in 2005, stood out for the All Whites on their European tour last spring. The highlight of the trip was a match against Brazil in Geneva, Switzerland. Brazil won, 4-0.

Old is one of several highly touted Red Storm underclassmen to leave during the offseason. Midfielder Garry Lewis, a 2005 Soccer America All-Freshman selection, transferred to North Carolina. Tony Beltran, a starter on the U.S. U-20 national team, left Jamaica for UCLA.